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A great time to buy brown

Virginia Blackburn on furniture for connoisseurs

September 30 2006, 1:00am, The Times

Has there ever been such a pedestrian expression as brown furniture, given the beautiful objects it represents? But forget the dreary description, this is what most people think of as traditional antiques — and now is a very good time to buy.

While the top end of the market has remained relatively stable in recent years, the fashion for minimalism in the home and the drop in American visitors to these shores has meant that prices have fallen at the slightly less expensive end of the market. There are signs, however, that buyers are coming back.

Brown furniture will be in abundance at the Cotswold Art and Antique Dealers’ Association exhibition taking place in various towns and villages in the area from October 7-21.